HOW TO IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF MATTER:
STEP 1: Is it an element? (Check the
Periodic Table…if it is on the Periodic Table,
it is an element.)
STEP 2: Is it a compound? (A compound
is more than one element chemically
combined. Check the list of common
compounds…if it is there, it is a
compound.)
STEP 3: If it isn’t an element or compound,
then it is a mixture, but you need to figure
out which kind of mixture…
If it’s unevenly mixed, it’s heterogeneous.
If it’s evenly mixed, it’s homogeneous.
STATION A: milk
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Describe this type of matter in words.
STATION B: aluminum
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Describe this type of matter in words.
STATION C: copper
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Draw a diagram using shapes to
represent this type of matter.
STATION D: salt
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Describe this type of matter in words.
STATION E: water
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Draw a diagram using shapes to
represent this type of matter.
STATION F: sugar water
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Draw a diagram using shapes to
represent this type of matter.
STATION G: granite
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Describe this type of matter in words.
STATION H: orange juice
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Draw a diagram using shapes to
represent this type of matter.
STATION I: zinc
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Describe this type of matter in words.
STATION J: magnesium
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Draw a diagram using shapes to
represent this type of matter.
STATION K: jar of particles
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Describe this type of matter in words.
STATION L: sand and rock
1. What type of matter is it?
(element, compound, heterogeneous mixture or
homogeneous mixture)
2. Draw a diagram using shapes to
represent this type of matter.
A FEW COMMON COMPOUNDS
H2O (water)
NaCl (table salt)
CO2 (carbon dioxide)
C6H12O6 (glucose)
HCl (hydrochloric acid)
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
NH3 (ammonia)
NaHCO3 (baking soda)
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)
SO2 (sulfur dioxide)
SiO2 (silicon dioxide)
Fe2O3 (iron oxide)
CH4 (methane)